Display shelving



Sept. 12, 1961 s. w. JENTZEN 2,999,599

DISPLAY SHELVING Filed Sept. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTOR. syoloaY w. JEN'rzerJ ATToRrJE/ Sept. 12, 1961 s. w. JENTZEN 2,999,599

DISPLAY SHELVING Filed Sept. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

77 swam w. JEN-r2510 E1 7 BY @MM :2 A RN Y United States Patent Filed Sept. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 758,194 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-90) This invention relates to the merchandising of goods in stores and more particularly to display equipment mountable on a floor and along a wall.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a completely new system of display equipment wherein the assembled display may be easily changed to meet every merchandising need with a minimum of effort.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a unitized component section of the strut system whereby various displays may be formed including display shelves, hang rods, showcases and storage cabinets, all of which are interchangeable as to location, and all of which or part, may be combined to form a complete store display.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display system including a series of unitized component sections or struts which have the ultimate in rigidity, strength and style, providing display modules, and wherein multiples of this module may be employed to provide the desired length of display.

It is another object to include the use of a forwardly extending longitudinal light shielding canopy across the top thereof, or upper portions thereof, to thereby integrate the various display departments and to provide for proper illumination of the entire display, and in such manner as to accent the merchandise displayed with the display system itself inconspicuous.

The present adjustable strut modules as a system enables the user to vary the display space allocated to particular goods such as for special sales, seasonal promotions, or as styling changes may require.

It is a further object to provide display equipment for stores which is self-supporting and may be installed along the bare walls, and with the simplicity of the adjustable struts conducive to complete installation in a short period, and wherein the assembled modules are flexible as to arrangement within the imagination of the store manager.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide within the upright struts a series of vertically spaced apertures adapted to cooperatively receive the notched supporting fingers of the removable and interchangeable shelving and wherein said fingers and the associated bracket form an integral part of the shelf and its frame.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification, claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one assembly of the present display equipment.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one section thereof, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is an exploded diagrammatic view illustrating the relationship and assembly of the uppermost level of the respective parts shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlarged scale illustrating the mounting of the top horizontal anchor channel and associated bracket to a wall.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view of the lower end of a strut support.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational View illustrating on an enlarged scale, the assembly of the upper portions of the display shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of shelving.

FIG. 8 is a similar view of another form of shelving.

FIG. 9 is a similar view of another form of shelving.

Patented Sept. 12, 1961 ice FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view from the interior of the display FIG. 1, illustrating the mounting of a hang rod.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a back display panel adapted for mounting within the display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the upright tubular body of the strut.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slight variation of strut construction.

FIG. 14 is a similar view of another variation.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another variation of strut assembly.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are similar views of still other variations of the present strut assembly.

It will be understood that the above drawings show merely preferred embodiments of the invention for illustration, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

The present merchandise display equipment as shown in FIG. 1 is mountable on the floor 12 and along the wall 11 of a store or a room therein. As a first step in the assembly of the display equipment shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a horizontally disposed outwardly opening anchor channel 13, which is secured by fasteners 14, FIG. 4 along wall 11 at the proper height, having been precut to the required length. A standard height employed, for illustration, is 83 /2 inches to the top of this channel.

As a second step-a series of outwardly extending Z gusset brackets 16 are mounted along the top of channel 13 and secured thereto spaced at proper center to center measurements. For illustration, this measurement is usually 47 /2 in. Channel 13 has along its longitudinal outer edge a pair of spaced inwardly directed horizontal flanges 15 defining a longitudinal slot.

Nut 19 is slidably positioned upon the interior of channel 13 and maintained against the inner longitudinal edges of flanges 15 by coiled spring 20, whereby said nuts are self-supporting within the channel and may be easily slid to the correct location for threadedly receiv ing the bracket fastening bolts 18, FIG. 4. Said brackets include the horizontal outwardly extending top members 17 having spaced vertical apertures 28.

As a next step, individual upright struts 21 are mounted upon floor 12 as shown in FIG. 2 and located directly under Z brackets 16-47, and are secured thereto by fasteners 27, FIG. 3.

It is usually advisable to mount the first and last strut 21 in a single run. A chalk line may then be pulled taut between the first and last struts to assist in the alignment of all other uprights in the run.

Each of the struts 21 includes an upright tubular channel support 25, preferably of square cross section, which rests upon the floor parallel to wall 11 and spaced forwardly thereof.

Each support 25 has an adjustable foot 31 at its lower end which engages floor 12 and includes the upright threaded adjusting shaft 30 which projects axially upwardly through the transverse webs 29 at the lower end of support 25, at least one of which is threaded. Accordingly, rotation of foot 3031 will achieve the correct vertical adjustment of support 25 after which shaft 30 may be retained within support 25 against further inward adjustment by the bolt and nut assembly 33- 34, FIG. 5, within channel groove 35. Upon final adjustment, the feet 31, if desired, may be fixedly secured to the floor 12 by suitable fasteners 32.

The above mentioned strut 21, FIG. 2, also includes upright tubular body 22 which is adapted to normally bear against wall 11 beneath anchor channel 13. Said body is preferably of square cross section and has formed throughout its front surface a series of vertically spaced shelving mounting apertures 23, as indicated on a larger scale in FIG. 12.

Horizontal tubular member 24 of similar cross section fixedly connects the lower end of body 22 with an adjacent portion of support 25. An additional horizontal tubular member 26 of similar cross section fixedly connects the upper end of body 22 with the top of support 25; and in one embodiment thereof shown in FIG. 2, projects forwardly of said support, as shown also in FIG. 6.

The assembled rigid strut 21 is arranged in an upright position directly under the previously located gusset bracket 16-17 and is fixedly secured thereto by the above mentioned sheet metal fasteners 27 or equivalent fastener shown in FIG. 3. a

The rear surfaces of supports 25 are vertically slotted at 35, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and and provide a means of bolting brackets or other fixtures upon the interior of the assembled display equipment.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of L-shaped brackets 64 with upturned edges are adjustably mounted upon the interior surface of an adjacent pair of supports 25 as by the bolts 65 in an assembly similar to bolt and nut assembly 18, 19 and 20, FIG. 4, for adjustably anchoring said brackets at the desired height. A suitable hang rod 66 is snugly interposed between brackets 64 and provides a means of hanging garments as shown in the completed assembly, FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 16, end portions 36 project forwardly of the respective supports 25 and must be in substantial transverse alignment to receive the inwardly directed flanges 38 of the horizontally disposed channel 37.

The light holding channel 37 is secured by suitable fasteners to the front ends 36 of horizontal braces 26, at the same time making sure that the proper center to center distances are maintained between the struts.

Channel 37 includes the forwardly extending horizontal flange 39 which supportably receives and has secured longitudinally thereunder the lighting assembly 40 with associated fluorescent tube 41, for illustration.

As a subsequent step, the preformed metallic cornice 42 or canopy is installed. Said canopy includes horizontal top flange 43 which overlies flange 39 and is fixedly secured thereto by a series of sheet metal or other fasteners 44. Said canopy includes the downwardly ex tending longitudinally arranged preformed body 45 which shieldingly extends below the illuminating tubes 41 and is of any desired cross sectional shape as to direct the illumination inwardly. Thereafter the assembly is completed by fastening on one or both ends of the said cornice section a suitable end panel 46 as shown in FIG. 1.

Normally in the assembly of the present display equipment, one shelf, such as one of the shelves shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, is mounted between a pair of struts 21 to serve as a spacer and to facilitate in the squaring off of said struts prior to fastening of feet 31 to floor 12.

The elongated rectangular shaped top deck insert 47 for closing off the top of the display assembly is mounted in one or more pieces so as to span the tops of the strut members 26 with the front and rear edges thereof extending to and over portions of brackets 16-17, as well as the corresponding flange 38 of light supporting channel 37, best illustrated in FIG. 6.

One form of display shelf 48 is shown in FIG. 7, of a unitary construction which includes the rectangular frame 49, horizontal platform 50 and the rearwardly extended notched mounting brackets 51 as an integral part thereof. The rear corners of frame 49 having notches 52 formed therein to cooperatively receive portions of strut bodies 22 as the rearwardly extending mounting fingers 53 with undercut notches 54 are retainingly projected within adjacent vertically spaced pairs of apertures 23 so as to interlockingly engage the bodies of adjacent struts 21.

This construction eliminates the adjustment of fasteners for securing brackets to the shelving and provides a unitary shelf assembly which may be easily and conveniently projected horizontally between a pair of upright struts 21 for location vertically as desired, providing the type of display assembly shown in FIG. 1.

The brackets 51, notches 52 and the vertically slotted and rearwardly extending fingers 53 in conjunction with frame 49 cooperatively engage the upright apertured bodies 22 of the said struts and provide a rigid mounting for said shelving which may not be accidently displaced. At the same time such construction permits the easy interchange or vertical adjustment of the shelving, as desired.

Instead of the plain surface shelving 48, there is provided in FIG. 8, plastic tray display shelf 55, shown in assembly in FIG. 1, which is similar in construction to shelf 48, FIG. 7, but includes upon its top surface 50 the end L-shaped channels 56 suitably secured thereto and extending forwardly in parallel relation, and the series of upright parallel U-shaped spacer channels 57.

These channels provide in conjunction with the longitudinal stop plate 58, a series of guideways to supportably receive in spaced relation the preferably plastic transparent hollow trays 59, FIG. 1.

This type of shelving may be easily removed simply by lifting the shelf as a whole upwardly and outwardly. This assembly eliminates loose hardware, gussets, stiffeners and brackets and simplifies relocation of shelves and other parts; and no tools are required.

A third illustrative form of shelf 60 is shown in FIG. 9, which includes rectangular metallic frame 61, supporting the rectangular glass top 62, said frame including a similar integral mounting bracket assembly 63, the same as the integral bracket 51 of FIG. 7 and including the vertically slotted and notched rearwardly extending shelf supporting and retaining fingers 53.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show three forms of shelving which may be employed within the assembled display of FIG. 1, it being understood that any other type of rectangular shelving may be employed which incorporates this unitary frame and mounting bracket assembly and whereby the shelving may be easily adjusted, assembled or interchanged, as desired.

The hang rod 66 shown in FIG. 10 is preferably of a heavy-duty steel tubing and in the preferred embodiment is 47 inches long.

FIG. 11 illustrates a back display panel 67, preferably 46 inches long, in the preferred embodiment, and including at its upper ends a pair of rearwardly extending mounting brackets 68 of inverted J-form, which are adapted to be supportably mounted either upon wall 11 within the assembled display or upon a transverse support 93 interposed between a pair of adjacent upright struts 21. The panel 67 may be a Pegboard, as shown, or may be constructed as a panelboard, made of hardwood, plastic or may be in the form of a mirror.

There is shown in FIG. 2, mounting flanges 69 which are suitably secured upon the interior of struts 21, as for example adjacent the horizontal tubular braces 24 to provide between the struts 21 horizontal supports for a storage cabinet 70 such as shown in FIG. 1. Such cabinet may be of various forms and include front sliding doors 71, opaque or transparent, as desired.

The present construction provides for the location of such storage cabinets within the display assembly as and where desired, being interchangeable to different locations to serve the needs of the user. These storage cabinets are 46 inches long in the preferred embodiment. Another such storage cabinet is indicated at 72 in FIG. 1, mounted on similar flanges 69, interposed between a pair of struts 21 and including sliding doors 73.

A double drawer storage unit is indicated at 74, FIG. 1, which includes top work surface 28'. This unit provides two deep storage drawers which in the preferred embodiment are 22 inches high, 46 inches wide and 24 inches deep. These dimensions are again merely to indicate one practical assembly and are'not by way of limitation.

Storage unit 74 is similarly mounted upon a pair of horizontal flanges 69, as shown in FIG. 2, and may be easily removed, if desired. I v

FIG. 17 illustrates a slightly difterentform of unitary strut for a shelving display which includes upright tubular support body 76, which bears against wall 11 and underlies horizontal anchor channel 13. Forwardly extending tubular brace 77 joins the lower end of body 76. Upright tubular leg 78 is secured to and depends from an intermediate portion of brace 77 and at its lower end engages floor 12.

Body 76 at its upper end has joined thereto the tubular forwardly extending horizontal brace 79 which is anchored to channel 13 by Z gusset bracket 80 similar to the anchoring of top brace 26 in FIG. 3.

With a series of these struts arranged in upright position in longitudinally spaced relation at proper intervals and secured to channel 13 there will be provided a shelving assembly of slightly different form from that shown in FIG. 1. Body 76. has a similar series of vertically spaced apertures corresponding to apertures 23 of FIG. 12 adapted to supportably receive any of the shelving FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 in the same manner as above described.

The transverse longitudinal light mounting channel 37 similarly is joined to the corresponding outer ends of braces 79 of the struts and mounts the light assembly 41 and associated canopy 42, in the same manner as above described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 6. In the strut construction of FIG. 17 the forward support 25 of FIG. 2 is eliminated.

Another variation of strut construction is shown in FIG. 13 wherein the upright body 81 adjacent wall 11 is joined at its top and bottom to intermediate portions of tubular support 83 by the tubular cross braces 82 and 85.

Body 81 is constructed the same as the corresponding apertured body 22 of FIG. 2. Support 83 extends between floor 12 and ceiling 84 and at its respective opposite ends carries the adjustable feet 31 and associated adjusting screws 30 for fixedly securing support 83 as shown. This type of strut is recommended for use in stores where a special effect is desired to compensate for unusual store dimensions.

Top cross brace 85 projects forwardly of support 83 and in cooperation with a series of such struts has mounted upon its outer end a light mounting assembly and canopy 42 the same as above described.

The strut shown in FIG. 14 is the same as in FIG. 13, except that cross brace 86 ends at support 83 and no provision is made for a light canopy.

FIG. 15 shows a slightly different form of strut construction which provides for light canopy 42, but which does not incorporate slotted wall engaging upright bodies for the accommodation of shelves. This structure is provided where single hang rod assemblies and double hang rod assemblies are the only ones required. This simplified strut includes the upright support 87 of similar tubular form with adjusting feet 30-31 engaging the floor 12 and having secured at its top transverse tubular cross brace 88.

Said cross brace extends to wall 11 and is secured by a suitable Z gusset bracket 16 to the above described anchor channel 13 on wall 11. Brace 88 projects forwardly of support 87 to provide for the mounting of a similar illuminating canopy 42 as above described.

Another form of rigid strut assembly is shown in FIG. 16, being somewhat similar to the strut of FIG. 2, but omits provision for illumination of the displayed goods. Here the strut includes upright tubular support 89 with adjustable foot 3031 resting up on floor 12, and the similarly apertured upright shelf supporting body 92 hearing against wall 11.

The strut includes the horizontal tubular braces 90- 91 which interconnect the upper and lower ends of body 92 with corresponding portions of support 89. Brace 90 is anchored to wall 11 by bracket 16 which is secured to horizontal channel 13 mounted on said wall.

FIGS. 13 through 17 illustrate slightly different forms of strut construction in accordance with the present invention. These may be employed in a series respectively lt) provide display assemblies similar to that shown in Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination with a floor and wall, a pair of parallel spaced upright forwardly extending struts arranged at right angles to said wall, each strut consisting of an upright tubular channel support parallel to and spaced forwardly of said wall, means at its lower end resting on the floor, an upright tubular body above the floor bearing against said wall, horizontal tubular braces fixedly connecting upper and lower ends of said body with said support, the front surface of said body having formed therein throughout its height a series of vertically spaced apertures, a bracket securing the top of each strut to said wall, a rectangular horizontally disposed shelf removably interposed between said pair of struts and including a rectangular frame, and rearwardly extending notched brackets on the rear ends of said frame, each bracket including a pair of vertically spaced notched fingers retainingly projected and nested within an adjacent pair of apertures in an adjacent pair of strut bodies respectively. p

2. The display equipment of claim 1, and a horizontally disposed outwardly opening channel secured to said wall directly above the upper ends of said bodies, said strut securing brackets being secured to said latter channel.

3. The display equipment of claim 1, and a horizontally disposed outwardly opening channel secured to said wall directly above the upper ends of said bodies, said channel including vertically spaced inwardly directed longitudinally extending flanges, spring biased nuts slidlably positioned in said channel bearing against said flanges, and bolts extending through said strut securing brackets and threaded into said nuts.

4. The display equipment of claim 1, the top brace between said body and support extending forwardly of said support, a longitudinally extending channel having laterally extending flanges on one side positioned over and secured to the outer ends of the top brace extensions of said struts, and a rectangular top deck insert mounted over and spanning the strut top braces and interposed between said wall engaging strut securing brackets and said latter channel.

5. The display equipment of claim 1, the top braces of said struts having forward extensions, a longitudinally extending channel interconnecting the outer ends of said brace extensions, said channel including a horizontally elongated flange, an elongated lighting assembly mounted and secured thereunder, and a formed light deflecting canopy mounting over said horizontal flange and extending between said struts.

6. In combination with a floor and a wall, a pair of parallel spaced upright struts arranged at right angles to said wall, each strut consisting of an upright tubular channel support resting on the floor parallel to and spaced forwardly of said wall, a horizontal channel secured to said wall above said struts, a horizontal forwardly extending top brace at one end engaging said wall, secured to said channel, joined to said support and projecting forwardly thereof, a light supporting channel bridging the outer ends of said top braces, a light assembly mounted on and depending from said light channel, extending between said struts, and a horizontally extending canopy mounted on said light channel and depending from the outer side thereof.

7. In combination with a floor and a wall, a pair of parallel spaced upright struts arranged at right angles to said wall, each strut consisting of an upright tubular body above the floor bearing against said wall, a horizontal transversely extending anchor channel on said wall directly above said struts, a horizontally disposed forwardly extending support brace joined to the lower end of said body, a tubular leg depending from an intermediate portion of said brace and engaging said floor, an upper out wardly extending horizontal top brace joined to the upper end of said body and projecting outwardly thereof, a bracket securing said top brace to said horizontal channel, a light supporting channel bridging the outer ends of said top braces, a light assembly mounted on and depending from said light channel, extending between said struts, and a horizontally extending canopy mounted on said light channel and depending from the outer side thereof.

8. In combination with a floor and a wall, a pair of parallel spaced upright struts arranged at right angles to said wall, each strut consisting of an upright tubular body above the floor bearing against said wall, a horizontal transversely extending anchor channel on said wall directly above said struts, a horizontally disposed forwardly extending support brace joined to the lower end of said body, a tubular leg depending from an intermediate portion of said brace and engaging said floor, the forward surface of said body having formed therein a series of vertically spaced apertures, a rectangular horizontally disposed shelf removably interposed between said pair of struts and including a rectangular frame, and rearwardly extending notched brackets on the rear ends of said frame, each bracket including a pair of vertically spaced notched fingers retainingly projected and nested within an adjacent pair of apertures in an adjacent pair of strut bodies respectively, and a bracket securing each strut to said anchor channel.

9. In combination with a floor and a Wall, a series of parallel spaced upright struts arranged at right angles to said wall, each strut consisting of an upright tubular channel support resting on the floor parallel to and spaced forwardly of said wall, an upright tubular body above the floor bearing against said wall, horizontal tubular braces fixedly connecting upper and lower ends of said body with said support, the front surface of said body having formed therein throughout its height a series of vertically spaced apertures, a bracket securing the top of each strut to said wall, a rectangular horizontally disposed shelf remov ably interposed respectively between a pair of struts and including a rectangular frame, and rearwardly extending notched brackets on the rear ends of said frame, each bracket including a pair of spaced notched fingers retainingly projected and nested within an adjacent pair of apertures in an adjacent pair of strut bodies respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 510,562 Breslin Dec. 12, 1893 845,917 Worley Mar. 5, 1907 1,554,011 Lehman Sept. 15, 1925 2,650,145 Siemenski Aug. 25, 1953 2,661,993 Little Dec. 8, 1953 2,710,241 Lieberman June 7, 1955 2,729,314 Doran J an. 3, 6 2,838,355 Crowther June 10, 1958 2,927,666 Braviak Mar. 8, 1960 2,971,805 Weiss Feb. 29, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Roberts Portable Oven Co. Catalog, April 15, 1907. (Copy Div. 52.) 

